Sundara Kanda
Narration
Afterward, the destroyer of enemies, Hanuman, decided to travel through the path of the sky in search of the place where Sita, who had been abducted by Ravana, was being kept. This was the heavenly route traveled by celestial beings such as the Charanas.
Hanuman was about to undertake a task that was extremely difficult for others and in which he had no helper. As he prepared himself, he appeared like a mighty bull. The brave son of the Wind God then moved happily over the green grass, shining like emeralds, sapphires, and the waters of the ocean.
The wise Hanuman frightened birds, uprooted trees with the force of his chest, crushed many deer and forest animals beneath his feet, and looked glorious like a powerful lion.
The lower regions of that mountain were beautifully decorated with natural minerals of blue, red, white, black, and lotus-like colors. Gods, Yakshas, Kinnaras, Gandharvas, and Nagas, who could change their forms at will, lived there with their families.
Standing upon the broad plateau filled with mighty elephants, Hanuman appeared like a gigantic elephant standing near a lake.
He bowed respectfully to the Sun God, Indra, the Wind God, Brahma, and all divine beings, then faced east and offered prayers to his father, Vayu Dev. After that, Hanuman prepared to travel southward and began enlarging his body.
The great monkeys watched as Hanuman’s body expanded just as the ocean swells during the full moon. Determined to fulfill Lord Rama’s mission, he increased his size enormously in preparation for crossing the sea.
Pressing the mountain firmly with his arms and feet, Hanuman caused it to tremble violently. Trees shook, their flowers fell in every direction, and the mountain became covered in fragrant blossoms, looking as though it were made entirely of flowers.
As Hanuman pressed down with tremendous force, streams of water burst from the mountain like the flowing ichor from a mighty elephant. Rocks cracked and rolled down. Terrified creatures rushed into caves and cried loudly, filling all directions with noise.
Huge serpents with terrifying hoods spat fire-like venom and bit the mountain rocks, causing them to shatter into thousands of pieces. Even the medicinal herbs growing there could not neutralize the poison.
Sages and Vidyadharas thought evil beings were destroying the mountain. Frightened, they rose into the sky along with their wives, abandoning their golden vessels, food, weapons, ornaments, and luxurious belongings.
The celestial beings watched from the sky and heard the sages saying:
“This mighty son of the Wind God, Hanuman, wishes to cross the vast ocean to accomplish Lord Rama’s mission. He seeks to reach the far shore, which is extremely difficult to attain.”
Hearing this, all the celestial beings gazed upon Hanuman with admiration.
Hanuman shook his body, roared loudly like thunder, and curled his tail upward into the sky like Garuda lifting a serpent. His tail stretched behind him like a great snake being carried through the heavens.
He planted his massive arms upon the mountain, drew in his limbs tightly, controlled his breath, focused his mind, and prepared for the leap.
Then Hanuman addressed the monkeys:
“Just as Lord Rama’s arrow flies with the speed of the wind, in the same way I shall go to Lanka, ruled by Ravana.
If I do not find Sita there, I will search even the heavens.
If I still do not find her, I will bind Ravana and bring him here.
Either I shall return with Sita, or I will uproot Lanka itself and bring it back!”
With these words, Hanuman leapt into the sky with immense speed.
The trees on the mountain were uprooted by the force of his jump and followed him briefly through the air like relatives escorting a loved one departing for a distant land. Flowers showered into the ocean, making it look like a star-filled sky.
Hanuman’s arms stretched across the heavens like two five-hooded serpents emerging from a mountain. His glowing eyes resembled blazing fires, while his red face shone like the sun at sunset.
His curved tail appeared like Indra’s banner. His enormous body moved above the ocean while his shadow spread across the waters below like a great ship sailing through the sea.
As he flew, towering waves rose beneath him. The ocean roared and churned violently due to the wind generated by his speed.
Gods, Gandharvas, sages, and celestial beings praised Hanuman and showered flowers upon him. The Sun did not scorch him, and the Wind God lovingly supported him.
Meanwhile, the ocean itself thought:
“If I do not help Hanuman, who serves Lord Rama of the Ikshvaku dynasty, I will deserve criticism. King Sagara of the Ikshvaku line once expanded me. Therefore, I must assist this noble messenger.”
The ocean then spoke to the golden mountain Mainaka, hidden beneath the waters:
“Rise up and offer Hanuman a place to rest.”
At once, Mainaka emerged from the sea like the rising sun bursting through clouds. His golden peaks shone brilliantly into the sky.
Seeing the mountain suddenly appear before him, Hanuman first thought it was an obstacle. He struck it with his chest and pushed it downward.
Mainaka then assumed a human form and respectfully spoke:
“O Hanuman, rest upon my peaks for a while. The ocean wishes to honor you because you are carrying out Lord Rama’s mission. Your father, Vayu Dev, once saved me from Indra when the wings of mountains were being cut away. Therefore, I wish to repay that kindness.”
Mainaka lovingly offered fruits, roots, and hospitality.
But Hanuman replied politely:
“Your affection honors me greatly, but I have vowed not to stop until I complete Lord Rama’s work.”
Touching Mainaka respectfully with his hand, Hanuman continued onward through the sky.
The gods and Indra praised Mainaka for helping Hanuman.
Soon afterward, the gods wished to test Hanuman’s intelligence and strength. They asked Surasa, the mother of serpents, to obstruct his path.
Assuming a terrifying demoness form with a gigantic mouth, Surasa said:
“The gods have offered you to me as food. Enter my mouth!”
Hanuman replied respectfully:
“I am going on Lord Rama’s mission to find Sita. Allow me to complete my task. I promise to return afterward.”
But Surasa insisted that no one could pass her without entering her mouth.
Then a contest began. Surasa expanded her mouth to ten yojanas wide. Hanuman enlarged his body even more. She increased again, and so did he. This continued until her mouth became one hundred yojanas wide.
Suddenly, Hanuman shrank himself to the size of a thumb, quickly entered and exited her mouth, and said:
“O Mother, your boon is fulfilled. I have entered your mouth.”
Surasa resumed her divine form and blessed him:
“Go forward successfully and reunite Sita with Lord Rama.”
Continuing onward, Hanuman encountered another demoness named Simhika, who possessed the power to seize shadows. She caught hold of Hanuman’s shadow and slowed him down.
Remembering Sugriva’s warning about such a creature, Hanuman enlarged himself. Simhika opened her massive mouth wide. Hanuman suddenly shrank, entered her mouth, tore apart her vital organs with his sharp claws, and burst out again.
Simhika fell dead into the sea.
The celestial beings praised Hanuman:
“Strength, intelligence, courage, and skill all exist together within you. Such a hero can never fail.”
At last, after crossing the hundred-yojana ocean, Hanuman saw the southern shore. He saw forests, mountains, rivers, and finally the magnificent city of Lanka shining beautifully like Amaravati itself.
Thinking carefully, Hanuman realized that his huge form would attract attention. Therefore, he reduced himself to a smaller size suitable for entering Lanka secretly.
Standing upon a mountain peak, Hanuman gazed upon the glorious city of Lanka and prepared to begin the next part of Lord Rama’s mission.
Thus ends the First Chapter of Sundara Kanda from the sacred Valmiki Ramayana.